Young Guns 3: Why the Wild West Needs to Ride Again Right Now
There’s an old saying in the West: you ride when the trail is clear, and you strike when the iron is hot. And right now, the trail is wide open for a Western revival on the big screen. With modern audiences falling in love all over again with cowboy tales thanks to hits like Yellowstone, 1883, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves, there’s never been a better time for Young Guns 3 to saddle up and ride into the cinematic sunset.
Let’s face it—the West is back, and it’s got unfinished business.
The Legacy of the Young Guns
The original Young Guns movies weren’t just standard shoot-‘em-ups. They were a fusion of rock ‘n’ roll attitude and frontier justice, starring a who’s-who of 1980s and early 90s heartthrobs: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, and Christian Slater, to name a few. What made Young Guns so iconic wasn’t just the gunfights—it was the charisma, the brotherhood, and the tragic beauty of a group of boys living fast and dying young in the brutal reality of the American frontier.
Set against the real backdrop of the Lincoln County War in New Mexico during the late 1870s, Young Guns brought the legend of Billy the Kid to a new generation, blending history with cinematic swagger. It wasn’t just about cowboys—it was about rebellion, loyalty, and choosing your path when the world turns against you.
The sequel, Young Guns II, gave us a darker, more philosophical turn, exploring what happens when legends grow older. The inclusion of Jon Bon Jovi’s music, especially “Blaze of Glory,” gave it an epic, almost mythic quality that still resonates decades later.
Why Now?
So why bring back Young Guns now?
Because we’re living in the golden age of Western storytelling—again. After years of being considered a dead genre, the Western has surged back into pop culture, and we have one man to thank for a big chunk of that: Taylor Sheridan.
Sheridan’s work—Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and even modern-tinged Westerns like Hell or High Water and Wind River—has reinvigorated the cowboy myth for a new era. These shows and films dive deep into the moral gray areas of survival, legacy, land, and family. And just like Young Guns, they don’t shy away from showing the price of a violent life.
Sheridan deserves serious credit. His work has taken the Western out of dusty old tropes and put it into modern relevance. He understands that Westerns aren’t just about good guys vs. bad guys—they’re about complicated men and women trying to survive in lawless or broken systems.
What Young Guns 3 Needs to Get Right
If Young Guns 3 wants to stand tall in today’s Western boom, it can’t just rely on nostalgia. It needs to deliver something authentic, raw, and modern, while still honoring the fire and flair that made the first two films beloved.
Here’s what it needs:
-
Returning Cast: Emilio Estevez must return as Billy the Kid—perhaps older, wiser, but still dangerous. Lou Diamond Phillips as Chavez would be essential to ground the story. Let’s explore the weight of their choices years later.
-
New Blood: To capture younger audiences, introduce a new generation of outlaws—maybe the sons, apprentices, or enemies of the original Regulators. Cast modern stars with edge and depth—think Austin Butler, Timothée Chalamet, Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, or Glen Powell.
-
Realism Meets Style: Keep the signature slickness—quick dialogue, fast-paced action—but lean into historical grit, just like Sheridan does. Real stakes, real losses, and moments of philosophical reflection between the bullets.
-
Location, Location, Location: With filming reportedly set in New Mexico, the spirit of the original saga is alive. The vast mesas, ghost towns, and endless skies of the Southwest are part of the movie’s DNA.
-
A Powerful Soundtrack: Just as Bon Jovi helped define the tone of Young Guns II, imagine Young Guns 3 with a soundtrack that blends modern folk, rock, and country. Artists like Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, or even Post Malone could bring a new sound to an old story.
Let the Outlaws Ride Again
This isn’t just a sequel—it’s a resurrection of a legend. With the world embracing stories of survival, brotherhood, and rebellion in the untamed frontier, Young Guns 3 has the chance to be more than a nostalgia trip. It can be a generational bridge, introducing Billy the Kid and the Regulators to new fans while giving old-school lovers one more ride into the storm.
The time is now. The horses are saddled. The wind is rising. And if Hollywood is smart, they’ll light the match while the Western fire’s still blazing.
Give Sheridan a Saloon Seat
Whether Taylor Sheridan is involved officially or not, Young Guns 3 owes a debt to what he’s built. He didn’t just revive the genre—he reminded us of its power. So tip your hat to him, borrow a few storytelling tricks, and let the next chapter begin.
Because the West never really died. It was just waiting for the right time to ride again.
Comments
Post a Comment